Ludhiana, Aug. 28 -- Routine healthcare services at Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, were disrupted on Thursday as outpatient departments (OPDs) remained closed for a day as doctors and health department employees extended support to the Punjab State Ministerial Services Union's state-wide agitation.

The closure inconvenienced patients seeking routine consultations and follow-up treatment, with some forced to return without consultation.

The hospital normally sees around 1,000 to 1,200 patients a day in its OPDs, while monthly footfall is around 35,000. Although authorities had put up notices at multiple locations in advance about the August 27 closure, patients who came for consultations, tests and follow-up visits faced inconvenience.

Civil...